Wallabies rookie in a baptism of fire

FRESH Wallaby Caleb Timu is the man on a new mission who never watched his decorated back-row partners play a minute when they dominated at the 2015 World Cup.

He not only needs a backrow education at fast-forward speed but must also mesh with David Pocock and Michael Hooper for tomorrow night’s collision with the might of the Irish at Suncorp Stadium.

It’s not just that he’s played only 13 games of Super Rugby since his code switch from rugby league in 2016; he must also learn how the “Pooper” pairing operates.

In 2015 Timu was walking the streets of Auckland during a two-year Mormon mission when his new back-row partners were inspiring a World Cup final run to Twickenham.

“I didn’t watch a minute of the last World Cup because it was part of being fully dedicated to sharing the gospel of the Lord,” Timu, 24, said.

“There were a few gangstas who told me to get lost but most often I was warmly greeted.”

No defender has dared ignore the 117kg Timu this season because his high legpumping runs have burst through 28 tackles for the Queensland Reds.

That’s why the welcome has been so warm from Wallabies boss Michael Cheika, who hopes he’s found a No.8 for the long term with his fifth experiment in less than two years.

Ireland will use top flyhalf Johnny Sexton from the bench with Joey Carbery starting.